Sunday, June 15, 2014

Lock & Load 2014 Convention Report

Last weekend I, along with about 30 other players from Alberta, went down to Seattle for Lock & Load 2014. Here is the video report for the convention.

Lots of games and good competitors. I got 12 games in over the course of the weekend.

First opponent in Masters was Cam Buskell, from Alberta. He was playing pButcher and had me on the ropes...but I was able to get off a last ditch assassination with one of Rhoven's Guards.

Second game was against Brook Murphy from Victoria. Another Menoth player. I played eFeora and managed to get his Harbinger on fire twice...but both times the flames went out. My caster went down to Redeemer shots.

Next I played Brett Vogel from Texas. Using an eKruger list, he quickly got Ghetorix into my face with a Hyperagressive, Telekinesis, Teleport and another Telekinesis. Dead pSeverius!

Then I faced Steve Rich from California. He was playing Lylyth3. We had a good battle, but he eventually ran out of time on the clock.

The Masters top 8 looked like this going into day 2. Two Canadians in the top 8, but unfortunately, none from Alberta.

In the Hardcore tournament, I was playing an eFeora list. My first opponent was Scott Summerville playing Absylonia. I was doing quite well, until a Forsaken got a 7-dice attack off against my 'caster. Well, that was the end of that game.

Next I got paired up against my good friend, Elliot Christian (eVlad). On his second turn, he engaged my line of 'jacks, and took one down. I counter-struck with three 'jacks, juiced up with triggered abilities and focus...and whiffed everything. Terrible luck. Oh, well...Elliot is a worthy opponent and deserved the win.

Then it was off to Iron Arena. I played Zach from Dallas. He had a Lucant list (and not the only time I'd face something like it during the weekend).

Next I had a game with Matt from Seattle. He had the new eReznik battle engine out. Sweet model.

I then had a match with Logan from California. Talk about a high-energy guy. He was also playing Lucant from Convergence.

On Sunday, I had a game with Birch Helander who had a Vlad3 tier list.

And then I played Alex Kosma who managed to get off a Morghoul assassination against me. I was happy with the game state at the time...my 'jacks were laying waste to his beasts. Never mind.

At the end of the day, I had a game against another Skorne player: Joe from California. While I was getting beat up from most of the weekend, this game made me feel good for the plane ride back. He was playing Rasheth, and I had a tier 4 Mortenebra list on the table.

This was the final turn...it's not often you see 5 Cryx 'jacks at the end of a game standing next to an opposing 'caster.

As we were packing up to leave for the airport, the finals of the Iron Gauntlet worlds were in progress. Jay Larsen (in red) defeated Jason Watt to snag the world championship.

Thanks for the great video Kevin. Lock and Load is on my bucket list (as are many of the big US conventions) and while I'm currently unable to make the trip all the way from New Zealand I appreciate guys like yourself taking the time and effort to cover the event, present quality interviews, an capture the excitement and thrill of a weekend of Warmachine goodness.